(CNN) - Minutes after a spokesman for President Carter confirmed reports Tuesday that he was officially endorsing Barack Obama’s presidential bid, the Republican National Committee sent reporters a two-year-old YouTube clip in which he said the Illinois senator was not ready for the Oval Office.

“I just don’t think he’s got yet the proven substance or experience to be the president,” Carter told PBS host Charlie Rose in a 2006 interview, when asked whether Obama’s effectiveness as a campaigner and enthusiasm he had generated on the campaign trail that year might make him a good presidential candidate this cycle.

Elsewhere in that interview, he added that he considered Al Gore the best-qualified presidential candidate, although if then-frontrunner Hillary Clinton was nominated, he would support her.

Carter has not explained spoken publicly about his decision to endorse Obama, but in earlier interviews has spoken approvingly of the response generated by the Illinois senator’s candidacy.

soundoff(42 Responses)

Sam

So now it's not possible to change your views after TWO YEARS?

June 3, 2008 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

Dave

Who cares what the RNC or John McCain think about Obama? Their thoughts are insignificant to Democrats. Obama will whip McCain so badly in November that poor little Johnny will go running home crying to his momma.

June 3, 2008 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

Santiago

Obama would make a great preacher with his inspirational speeches that contain no solid direction. Clinton was right, Obama represents change you can xerox.

Given that, I'm an independent voter and will still be listening for Obama's actual ideas and plans for these great United States. Maybe he'll have something noteworthy to say before November.

Sadly, just like the Democratic Party's allocation of delegates, McCain will win the electoral college. Clinton got "Al-Gored" in the Democratic Primaries just as Obama will be "Al-Gored" in the General Election.

And right now, Michigan and Florida will probably go Republican... and all because of 4delegates that Obama wasn't willing to concede to Clinton as a reconcilatory gesture. Did he really need those 4? No.

The only positive aspect is that this should be a historical election year in terms of the number of voter turn-out!

Democrat or Republican! Get out there and vote! The best thing about US Democracy is that each person only has 4 or 8 yrs to screw things up.

June 3, 2008 05:45 pm at 5:45 pm |

Tailor

OK...

There is NO way we can let McCain win in November!!!

I am a proud Hilary supporter!! She has done so much good in this country.. and unfortunately isnt going to be the nominee!

BUT, Obama will now get my vote!! AND i will be a proud american for the first time in 8 years!!

Good Luck Mr. Obama!! You have one more Hilary supporter

June 3, 2008 05:48 pm at 5:48 pm |

Jesus Cruz

More like Borat Obama. The man doesn't have a clue.

June 3, 2008 05:51 pm at 5:51 pm |

noemi of reason, latina for obama!

If this BS did not work for Hillary Clinton, what makes you think it's goign to work for John McShame??

June 3, 2008 07:13 pm at 7:13 pm |

Cindy

2 years ago, I would have never voted for a guy named Barack Obama, either. It's amazing, isn't it?

Just think, the same thing can happen again in 2 more presidential elections from now... could be a woman Senator, or a Muslim Govenor... anything's possible in the USA. Obama has proven that.

June 3, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Larry Geater

That was then. This is now.

June 3, 2008 07:30 pm at 7:30 pm |

John

No surprise to hear this. Even Obama himself didn't think he had enough experience to be President early in his brief career as a US Senator. What has he done to gain experience to be the leader of the greatest country in the world since these comments were made.

Change you can believe in??? He is the most Liberal senator in the country, so how can he bring change. And, how could someone even vote for a guy that either doesn't show up to vote on a bill or abstains from a vote because he doesn't want to be put in a difficult position.

June 3, 2008 07:38 pm at 7:38 pm |

tm

oh that you tube is such a funny thing, i'm glad the republicans are finally learning to use it and all those intertubes
...you know there's also a video on there with mcsame saying he'd be too old to run in 08, i think that was also from 06

June 3, 2008 07:44 pm at 7:44 pm |

Pistoff

Two years ago ... Obama has more than proven himself in that time.

No problem digging up dirt on McWar from the past decade ... the flip=flopping war monger he is.

June 3, 2008 07:46 pm at 7:46 pm |

Sarah

This is just the beginning, and we have the press to partially blame for facilitating the idea that the Clinton's were race-baiting when it was clear to anyone with objectivity that it was the Obama camp twisting Bill's words (argh! lawyers!).
Now this country is in a no-win situation.
Life educated people won't vote for Obama because they can't afford to take a chance on an unknown quantityand college educated want him and will accuse hard working people of racism if they don't vote for him.
By the way just to clarify to some who think the right to choose is synonomous with reproductive rights need to get a clue. Abortion should not be a REGULAR method of BIRTH CONTROL.
Of course I know CNN won't post my comment they never do, just another reason this Hillary supporter will vote for McCain.

June 3, 2008 07:56 pm at 7:56 pm |

Keifer S.

Tailor, thank you for your support. It's been a long hard-fought campaign, and both sides needed to do what they had to do to win. I sincerely hope we can all be friends now and get the Republicans out of the White House. We must ALL stand united and get behind Barack Obama and ensure his victory in November to bring integrity and honor back to the United States of America. Together we can!

June 3, 2008 07:59 pm at 7:59 pm |

Kiah

Lord the Repugs are scrambling like roaches, LOL!

June 3, 2008 08:18 pm at 8:18 pm |

CHANGE

GOP = McLame. Two years is an eternity in the political arena.

OBAMA '08 '12

June 3, 2008 09:10 pm at 9:10 pm |

Stephen Daugherty

I think in 2006, Obama was yet to prove himself the best candidate. Hell, in 2006, I would have been skeptical. But that was before he defeated Clinton. I think anybody who doubt his political ability at this point will likely not know what hit them in November.

That's fine with me. The more they underestimate him, the better. Clinton underestimated him, and lost.